Automatic car coupler



Jan. 18, 1944. M. B. CAMERON ,3

AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER Filed A ril 28, 1942 z Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MortimefB. Uameran ATTORN EY Jan. 18, 1944. B, CAM R N 2,339,374

AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER Filed April 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig 2 I ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1944 AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER Mortimer B. Cameron, Edgewood, Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 28, 1942, Serial No. 440,804

25 Claims.

This invention relates to couplers for railway cars and more particularly to the automatic socalled tight-lock type such as disclosed for example in Patent 1,622,479, issued to H. F. Woernley on March 29, 1927.

Couplers of the above type are usually employed on passenger trains and it is often desirable to uncouple cars of such trains in a subway, on a bridge, or in other locations where it is difiicult, if not nearly impossible at times, to effect the uncoupling from outside of the cars.

One object of the invention is therefore the provision of novel coupler uncoupling arrangements which are operable from inside a car for uncoupling two counterpart car couplers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of manually operable mechanical means for uncoupling two counterpart car couplers and particularly adapted though not so limited, for operation from inside a car.

A coupler of the above type usually embodies a rockable lock having a cam surface for wedging against a surface On a counterpart coupler for tightly locking the two couplers together. A considerable degree of force is required to break this cam loose from a counterpart coupler to initiate an uncoupling operation.

Another object of the invention is therefore the provision of novel mechanical means arranged to initially deliver a sudden hammer like blow to the locking cam of a coupler to break it loose from a counterpart coupler and then to provide a follow up force for moving the cam to its uncoupling position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of wholly mechanical means controlled manually for accomplishing the above result.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coupler uncoupling structure such as defined in any of the above objects embodying means operable upon a manual uncoupling operation on one car for simultaneously actuating the uncoupling means on a counterpart coupler of a connected car.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent uncoupled condition; and Fig. 3 is a plan view in outline of a modified form of the invention.

, Description As shown in the drawings, the referencenumeral l indicates a car coupler which is provided with a rigid knuckle or nose 2 for interlocking in a recess 3 with a corresponding nose nose 2 out of said recess to thereby provide for from the following more detailed description of l the improved uncoupling means shown in its uncoupling of the two couplers.

The lock 4 is connected to one end of a rod 1 which projects into a cylinder 8 mounted on one side of the coupler. A spring 9 in this cylinder acts on a follower l0 secured to the other end of rod 7 for rocking the lock 4 in the direction of and to the coupler, locking position shown in Fig. 1. Movement of the rod 1 and follower l0 against spring 9 is required for rocking the lock 4 to its uncoupling position out of the recess 3, and the invention, which will now be described, relates to means for accomplishing this result. l I

According to the invention an uncoupling member I I, disposed in a recess in the coupler at one side of the cylinder 8, is pivotally mounted on a pin l2 and has a hammer arm [3 disposed to engage the end of rod 1 to which the follower I0 is secured for moving said rod and thereby the coupler lock 4 to their uncoupling positions. The member II has an actuating arm M which is engaged by a plunger 15 supporting one end of an uncoupling spring H5. The arm M is so arranged that the point of contact with plunger I5 is such that said spring is effective to urge the uncoupling member I l in a clockwise direction, that is, in a direction for moving the hammer arm l3 into contact with the end of rod 1.

The other end of spring 16 is supported on a member I! which is carried through the medium of a pin l8 by one end of a lever l9 which lever, intermediate its ends, is supported on a pin 20 secured in the coupler. The other end of the lever I9 is connected by a pin 2| to one end of a rod 22. The other or outer end of the rod 22 is supported in a suitable bore 21 in the coupler and. projects through the coupling face of the pressed as shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted that its force is applied to the uncoupling member II at a point located at one side of the center of fulcrum pin I2.

Between the pins and 2| the lever I9 is connected by a pin 24 to a member 25 engaged by one end of a spring 26, the other end of which spring is supported on a wall in the coupler. The spring 26 is also arranged to be compressed by movement of rod 22 into the coupler upon coupling with a counterpart coupler, and upon un-j coupling of two couplers the force of said spring is adapted to .rock the lever I9 in a counterclockwise direction for substantially relieving the pressure of spring E6 on the uncoupling member II.

V A latch or trip 28 keyed to a pin 29 carried by the coupler isarranged to, be-engaged by an arm 30 projecting from the uncoupling member II, with said member in the coupler position shown in Fig.1, for securing said member against movementjby'the opposing force of spring I6. The pin 29 may extend to. the underside of the coupler for keyed connection with a centering beam 3I having two oppositely disposed arms 32 and 33 'Each of these arms is engaged by one end of a plunger 4I which is slidably mounted in a suitable bore provided through a boss 42 depending from the coupler. Interposed between each of the bosses 42 and a collar 43 provided on each plunger M is a coil spring 44 urging the plunger in the direction of the Centering beam 3|. The action of the two springs '44 on the two plungers 4| and thereby on the centering beam 3I urges the latch 28 to its normal position shown in Fig. 1. One'of the plungers M is arranged at the transverse center of the coupler with one end normally disposed in the plane of the coupling .face thereof for contact with a corresponding plunger in a counterpart coupler.

Also secured to the pin 29 and located below the coupler is an operating lever 45, the outer end of which is connected by means, such as a chain 46 to any suitable manually, operable uncoupling member (not shown) located at any convenient part of the car, as in the vestibule, for operation We, trainman to efiect uncoupling of two couplers.

Operation Let 'itbe assumed that two couplers I are coupled together and that the spring 9 of each coupler is urging the respective coupler lock 4 against the surface 6 in the nose portion 2 .of the counterpart coupler for rigidly securing the two couplers'together, as shown in Fig. 1. Under this condition the plunger 4| at the lateral center of one coupler will be 'just in contact with the corresponding plunger in the counterpart coupler and the two springs 44 and these plungerslli will be effective to hold the centering beam 33 and thereby the trigger or trip 28 in the positionshown in Fig. 1.

With the two couplers coupled the rods 22 will occupy the positions shown, so that the compressive force of the uncoupling springs I6 will be acting through levers I9 at the side of the fulcrum pins 24 adjacent the coupling faces of the couplers, thereby tending to turn said levers in a clockwise direction. This tendency is, however, counterbalanced by the pressure of springs 26 on the levers I6, and it should be noted that the rods 22 are thus relieved of the force of springs I6. With the uncoupling springs I6 under pressure the uncoupling members I I are held against movement from the positions shown-in Fig. 1 by engagement between arms 36 and the ends of trips 28.

Whenever it is desired to uncouple the two couplers I, the trainman at an uncoupling station, as inside one of the connected cars pulls chain 46. On this car, this movement of chain 46 operates the lever to pull the trigger 28 out from under the end of arm 36. When this occurs, the force of spring I6 is rendered efiective to turn the uncoupling member II about the pin I2 and thus move the end of the hammer arm i3 into engagement with the end of the uncoupling rod I. By the time the end of the arm I3 engages theend of rod I sufficient momentum is attained-to strike the end of rod I a hammerlike blow which is transmitted to the lock 4 for breaking the cam surface 5 of said latch loose from the coupling surface 6 in the nose portion of the counterpart coupler. The force of spring i6 applied through the arm I3 and rod 1 to lock 4 then becomes effective to rock said lock out of the recess 2.

When the chain 46 and thereby the lever 45 are operated on the one car to release the trip 23 of the coupler on said car, the beam BI is rocked by said lever and moves the plunger 4| at the center of said coupler in the direction of the coupling face of the coupler, and this movement shifts the corresponding plunger M in the counterpart coupler into the coupler for rocking the beam SI therein. This rocking of beam 3| in the counterpart coupler moves the trip 28 therein out of contact with the uncoupling arm 30 and thereby renders the spring I6 effective to operate the uncoupling member II to first deliver a hammer like blow to the lock 4 in the counterpart coupler for breaking same loose from the surface 6 in the other coupler and to then move same out of the recess 2 therein. With the locks 4 in both couplers thus moved out of the recesses 3, the nose portions of the couplers may be withdrawn from said recesses to provide for uncoupling of the two cars.

When the locks 4 are moved to their uncoupling positions by the expansion of springs I6 as just described, the pressure of said springs becomes reduced below the opposing force of springs 26 acting on the levers I9, so that the springs 26 then become effective to urge the rods 22 out of the couplers upon parting movement of the couplers. Thus, as the two couplers move apart, the rod 22 in each is moved outwardly through the coupling face under the action of spring 26, and during this movement the line of action of spring I6 in each coupler is shifted to the opposite side of the center of fulcrum pin 20 for lever I9, so that the spring I6 then coacts with the spring 26 to hold the rod 22 in the projected position shown in Fig. 2.

9 on plunger ID in each coupler overcomes the opposing force applied to the uncoupling lever II by spring is and rocks the coupler lock 4 to the position for subsequent coupling operation, as shown in Fig. 2.

As the uncoupling lever II is operated under the action of spring 9, as just described the arm 30 projecting from said lever is positioned to permit return of trip 28 to its normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the car where the chain 46 was pulled to effect uncoupling, the trip 28 is automatically returned to its normal position by the action of springs 44 on beam 3| when the lever arm 3i] is positioned as just described and upon the trainmans release of the uncoupling chain 46, while on the other car, the trip 28 is returned to its normal position by centering springs 44 immediately upon such posi tioning of the lever arm 3i].

With the parts occupying the positions shown in Fig. 2, the coupler I is again in condition for coupling with a counterpart coupler.

When it is desired to coupler the coupler l with a counter art coupler, the two couplers are brought together, the nose portion 2 on each entering the recess 3 in the other and in so doing moving the coupler locks 4 out of the recesses against springs 9 until the nose portions attain the fully coupled positions shown in Fig. 1, at which time the springs 9 rock the locks 3 into interlocking relation with the surfaces 6 in the noses of the counterpart couplers.

As the two couplers are thus brought together, the rod 22 in each coupler is engaged by surface 23 of the counterpart coupler and is moved into the coupler. This movement of the rod 22 in each coupler rotates the lever I9 therein from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. As the lever I9 is thus operated, it acts to compress the uncoupling spring I 5 and the line of action of said spring passes from the side of the center of the lever fulcrum pin 2!! at which said spring coacts with spring 25, to the opposite side where it counteracts the pressure of spring 26 and relieves the rod 22 of force tending to move the counterpart coupler out of coupled relation. While spring [6 in each coupler is being compressed to provide a force on the uncoupling lever ii to effect subsequent uncoupling, it will be seen that the arm 30 projecting from lever H Ls moved into contact with the upper end of the trigger or latch 28 which was positioned for such engagement immediately following the uncoupling operation above described.

Thus in each coupler the force of Spring :6 is

supported by the trigger or trip 28 and the uncoupling lever H is held in its normal position shown in Fig. 1 until it is again desired to efiect uncoupling of the two couplers, as hereinbefore described.

Figure 3 If desired, movement of the trip 28 out of contact with the uncoupling lever 30 to provide for uncoupling operation of the lever H may be effected electrically by the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, in which case the chain 46 shown in Fig. 2 will not be employed.

According to this modification, a solenoid 59 is associated with coupler I and is arranged for control by a manually operated switch 5i which may be located inside of the car. This switch when operated to its circuit closing position connects the solenoid coil to a battery 52 for energizing the solenoid.

The solenoid comprises a movable armature 53 adapted to be projected therefrom upon energization of the solenoid. The end of the armature 53 is aligned with one end of an arm 54 projecting from the trip 23 and is so arranged as to be spaced from said arm when the solenoid is deenergized. Upon closure of switch 5| and energization of the solenoid the armature 53 is initially movable relative to the trip arm 54 so as to attain sufficient momentum to strike said'arm a blow which will promptly move the trip 28 out of contact with the uncoupling lever arm 38. At the same time,'the operation of arm 54 by the solenoid actuates the connected beam 3i and rod 4! to operate a corresponding rod and beam in a counterpart coupler to release the trip 23 therein from the uncoupling lever arm 38. Withthe uncoupling levers l I in two couplers thus released from the trips 28, the springs It will eilect uncoupling of the couplers in the same manner as described in connection With the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Summary It will now be seen that I have provided a wholly mechanical arrangement for moving the lock of a so-called tight lock coupler from its coupled position to its uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said coupler from a counterpart coupler. The arrangement provides for delivering a, hammer-like blow to the coupler lock for breaking it loose from, the coupling surface of the counter-part coupler followed by a force for moving the lock to its uncoupling position. Uncoupling operation of the structure associated with one coupler is arranged to effect uncoupling operation of the structure associated with a counterpart coupler to thereby provide for simultaneous movement of the locks in the two couplers to their uncoupling positions, such movement in each coupler being effected however independently of the movement in the other coupler, the interconnecting means between the two couplers merely providing for simultaneous operation of the release trips 28 in the two couplers.

This improved mechanical uncoupling arrangement is particularly adapted for control from any selected station on a vehicle, as in the interior thereof either through the medium of a direct mechanical connection, such as a chain, or electrically from a conveniently locatedswitch in case a solenoid is employed for releasing the trigger or trip in the coupler.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with acoupler lock for engaginga counterpart coupler to lock the two couplers in coupled relation, of a. member operative to move saidlock out of engagement with said counterpart coupler to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure for actuating said member, a trip for holding said spring under pressure and operative to release said spring for operating said member, and means operative to actuate said trip to release said spring.

2. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the two couplers in coupled relation, of a member operative to move said lock out of engagement with said counterpart coupler to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under compression operative upon expansion to actuate said member, means including a trip for normally holding said spring under compression, and means for actuating said trip to release said spring.

3. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the two couplers in coupled relation, of a member operative to move said lock out of engagement with said counterpart coupler to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure acting on said member for actuating same, a trip engageable by said member for holding said member against operation by said spring, and means operative to move said trip out of engagement with said member to render said member operable by said spring.

4. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock two couplers together, of a member operative to move said lock out of engagement with said counterpart coupler to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, uncoupling means arranged after a free preliminary movement relative to said member to engage and operate said member, a spring operative to actuate said uncoupling means, a latch normally securing said spring against operation and operative to release said spring for operation, and a member for controlling said latch.

5. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock two couplers together, of a member having an initial movement from a normal position relative to said lock to attain inertia for delivering a sudden blow to said lock and being then operative to move said lock out of engagement with said counterpart coupler, uncoupling spring means under pressure acting on said member for actuating same, latch means for holding said member in said normal position against the force of said spring means and being operable to release said member for movement by said spring means, and means for controlling said latch means.

6. In an automatic car coupler, the. combination with a coupler lock having a coupling position for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the two couplers together and being movable to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same to said coupling position, an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling element having a normal position and arranged to be moved by said uncoupling spring to move said lock to said uncoupling position against the opposing force of said coupling spring and having a free preliminary movement from said normal position relative to said look under the action of said uncoupling spring to develop inertia for delivering a sudden blow to said lock to break same loose from said counterpart coupler, holding means for securing said uncoupling element in said normal position against the force of said uncoupling spring, and, operative to release said uncoupling element for movement by said uncoupling spring, and means for controlling said holding means.

'7. In a car coupling comprising two counterpart car couplers, the combination in each coupler with a coupler lock for engaging the counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, of a member operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure for actuating said member, holding means normally operative to secure said member against operation by said spring and releasable to provide for such operation, release means for releasing said holding means, and means in both couplers cooperable with each other and operable in response to operation of said release means in one coupler to actuate said release means in the counterpart coupler to thereby release said coupler locks in both couplers.

8. In a car coupling comprising two counterpart car couplers, the combination in each coupler with a coupler lock for engaging the counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, of a member operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure for actuating said member, holding means normally operative to secure said member against operation by said spring and releasable to provide for such operation, a release member operative upon movement to release said holding means, means operative to move said release member, and means carried by each coupler providing an operating connection between the release members in both couplers and operative upon movement of said release member in one coupler to efiect movement of said release member in the counterpart coupler.

9. In a car coupling comprising two counterpart car couplers, the combination in each coupler with a coupler lock for engaging the counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, of a member operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure for actuating said member, holding means normally operative to secure said member against operation by said spring and releasable to provide for such operation, a release member operative upon movement to release said holding means, means operative to move said release member, and means carried by each coupler providing an operating connection between the release members in both couplers and operative upon movement of said release member in one coupler to efiect movement of said release member in the counterpart coupler, the last named means comprising in each coupler a rod movable longitudinally thereof and so disposed as to engage the said rod in the counterpart coupler upon coupling of the two couplers, and means in each coupler connecting the respective rod and release member for rendering the rod operable upon movement to release said release member.

.10. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, a member operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure operative to actuate said member, a trip having a normal position securing said spring against operation and releasable to provide for operation of said member by said spring, means for controlling said trip, and a rod extending longitudinally of said coupler at the transverse center thereof and having at one end a connection with said trip, the opposite end of said rod terminating in the plane of the coupling face of said coupler with said trip in said normal position and being movable in the direction of a counterpart coupler upon release of said trip by said means, said rod upon movement in the opposite direction being operable to release said trip.

11. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the two couplers together, of an uncoupling spring, means operative upon coupling said coupler to compress said spring, uncoupling means arranged for operation by the compressive force of said spring to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a member normally conditioned to hold said spring compressed and releasable to render said spring operative, and means for releasing said member.

12. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the two couplers together, of an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling member arranged to be operated by expansive force of said spring to move said lock to an uncoupling position to permit uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, a trip having a normal position engaging said uncoupling member for securing same against movement by said spring and releasable from said uncoupling member to render same operative by said spring, means operative to release said trip irom said uncoupling member, means operative automatically upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to move said trip to said normal position, and means operative automatically upon coupling of said counterpart coupler to compress said spring.

13. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock having a coupling position for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock urging same to said coupling position, an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling member arranged to be operated by expansive force of said uncoupling spring to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, a trip having a normal position for holding said uncoupling member in a position against the force of said uncoupling spring which provides for coupling of said counterpart coupler, means for releasing said trip to render said uncoupling spring operative, means operative upon coupling of said counterpart coupler to compress said uncoupling spring and upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to reduce the pressure of said uncoupling spring to a degree below that of said coupling spring to thereby render said coupling spring effective to move said lock to coupling position and to also move said uncoupling member to a position providing for return of said trip to normal position, and means operative automatically to return said trip to said normal position upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler.

14. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock having a coupling position for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock urging same to said coupling position, an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling member arranged to be operated by expansive force of said uncoupling spring to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provid for uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, a trip having a normal position for engaging said uncoupling member to hold same in a position against the force of said uncoupling spring, which provides for coupling of said counterpart coupler, means for releasing said trip from said uncoupling member, a release rod connected to said trip and extending longitudinally of said coupler and terminating at the coupling face of said coupler forengagement by a corresponding rod in said counterpart coupler, said rod bein movable in the direction of said coupling face upon operation of the trip releasing means and being also movable .in the opposite direction to release said trip;

15. In an automatic car coupler the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock two couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same to said coupling position, an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling member subject to pressure of said uncoupling spring and arranged to be operated thereby to move said lock to an uncoupling position against the opposing force of said coupling spring to provide for uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, a trip having a normal position for holding said uncoupling member against movement by said uncoupling spring, means for releasing said trip to render said uncoupling spring operative to actuate said uncoupling member, a lever connected with said uncoupling spring and operative upon rocking in one direction to compress said uncoupling spring for rendering same effective to move said coupler lock to un coupling position, said lever upon rocking in the opposite direction being efiective to reduce the force of said uncoupling spring to a degree below that of said coupling spring, and means operative by said counterpart coupler upon coupling thereof to move said lever in the first named direction for compressing said uncoupling spring and providing for movement of said lever in said opposite direction upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler.

16. In an automatic car coupler the combination with acoupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock two couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same to said coupling position, an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling member subject to pressure of said uncoupling spring and arranged to be operated thereby to move said lock to an uncoupling position against the opposing force-of said coupling spring to provide for uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, a trip having a normal position for holding said uncoupling member against movement by said uncoupling spring,

means for releasing said trip to render said uncoupling spring operative to actuate said uncoupling member, a lever connected at one'end to said uncoupling spring and operative upon rocking in one direction to compress said uncoupling spring and upon rocking in the opposite direction to reduce the force of said uncoupling spring on said uncoupling member to a degrees below the forc of said coupling spring to thereby render said coupling spring efiective to move said uncoupling member to a position providing for return of said trip to its normal position, and means operative automatically to return said trip to said normal position upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler;

'17. In an automatic car coupler the combinationwith a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock two couplers'together, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same to said coupling position/an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling member subject to pressure of said uncoupling spring and arranged to be operated thereby to move said lock to an'uncoupling position against the opposing force of said coupling spring toprovide foruncoupling of said counterpart, coupler, a trip: having a nor- ;mal position for holding said. uncoupling'mem- .ber against movement by said uncoupling spring,

means for releasing said trip to render said uncoupling spring operative to actuate said uncoupling member, a lever having a fulcrum connection intermediate its ends with said coupler and connected at one end to said uncoupling spring, a rod connected to the opposite end of said lever and arranged for movement by said counterpart coupler upon coupling of the two couplers to rock said lever in one direction to com-- press said uncoupling spring, spring means operative upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to rock said lever in the opposite direction to reduce the pressure of said uncoupling spring to a degree which provides for movement of said uncoupling member by said coupling spring to a position providing for return of said trip to its normal position, means operative automatically upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to return said trip to its normal position, the connections between said lever, said uncoupling spring and said rod being so arranged that said rod is relieved of the force of said uncoupling spring when said coupler is coupled with said counterpart coupler and is subject to the pressure of said uncoupling spring only during the act of coupling with said counterpart coupler.

18. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same into engagement with said counterpart coupler, an uncoupling member operative to move said lock out of engagement with said counterpart coupler against the opposing pressure of said coupling spring to provide for uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, an uncoupling spring under pressure for actuating said uncoupling member, a trip having a normal position for engaging said uncoupling member to secure same against movement by said uncoupling spring and being movable in either direction from normal position to render said uncoupling spring effective to actuate said uncoupling member, a lever connected to said trip and operative manually to move said trip from said normal position, spring means acting on said trip urging same to said normal position, and means operative upon coupling of said coupler with said counterpart coupler to compress said uncoupling spring to provide force for efiecting uncoupling operation of said lock upon disengagement of said trip from said uncoupling member and operative upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to reduce the pressure of said uncoupling spring to a degree below that of said coupling spring to render said coupling efiective to move said coupling member to a position providing for return of said trip to said normal position.

19. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the counterpart couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same to the position for engagement with said counterpart coupler, an uncoupling spring, an uncoupling member subject to pressure of said uncoupling spring and arranged to be operated thereby for moving said lock to an uncoupling position against the opposing force of said coupling spring, a trip having a normal position for cooperation with said uncoupling member to secure same against movement by said uncoupling spring, a lever connected to said trip and operative to disengage same from said uncoupling member to render said uncoupling spring effective, means operative upon coupling said coupler with said counterpart coupler to compress said uncoupling spring to provide force for moving said lock to said uncoupling position and operative upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to reduce the pressure of said uncoupling spring below that of said coupling spring for rendering the latter effective to move said lock to its coupling position and to also move said uncoupling member to a position providing for return of said trip to said normal position, spring means acting on said trip for automatically returning same to said normal position, and a rod carried by said coupler for movement longitudinally thereof, movement of said rod in one direction being effected by said lever upon operation thereof to release said trip from said uncoupling member, movement of said rod in the opposite direction being operative to release said trip from said uncoupling member, one end of said rod terminating in the plane of the coupling face of the coupler midway between the opposite sides of said coupler for engagement with a corresponding rod in a counterpart coupler.

20. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock two couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same to a position for coupling with a counterpart coupler, an element operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position providing for uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, an uncoupling spring under pressure, a rockable member carried by said coupler subject on one side of its axis to the force of said uncoupling spring, a holding member cooperative with said uncoupling member for securing same against movement by said uncoupling spring, means for releasing said holding member from said uncoupling member to render said uncoupling spring eifective to rock said uncoupling member, and means connecting said uncoupling member to said element for actuating said element to move said lock to uncoupling position upon release of said holding member from said uncoupling member.

21. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock two couplers together, a coupling spring acting on said lock for urging same to a position for coupling with a counterpart coupler, an element operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position providing for uncoupling of said counterpart coupler, an uncoupling spring under pressure, a rockable member carried by said coupler subject on one side of its aXis to the force of said uncoupling spring, a holding member cooperative with said uncoupling member for securing same against movement by said uncoupling spring, means for releasing said holding member from said uncoupling member to render said uncoupling spring effective to rock said uncoupling member, and an operating member projecting from said uncoupling member for engaging said element to transmit the force of said uncoupling spring through said element to said lock for moving same to said uncoupling position upon release of said holding member from said uncoupling member, said operating member being spaced from said element with said uncoupling member in contact with said holding member to thereby provide a preliminary free movement relative to said element, upon release of said holding member from said uncoupling member, to attain inertia for striking said element a sudden blow to break said lock loose from said counterpart coupler.

22. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, of a member operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure for actuating said member, a trip having a normal position for holding said member against movement by said spring, and manually operable means for moving said trip out of said normal position for releasing said member for movement by said spring.

23. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, of a member operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure for actuating said member, a trip having a normal position for holding said member against movement by said spring, an electroresponsive means operative upon energization to move said trip out of normal position for releasing said member for movement by said spring.

24. In an automatic car coupler, the combination with a coupler lock for engaging a counterpart coupler to lock the couplers together, of a member operative to move said lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of said couplers, a spring under pressure for actuating said member, a trip having a normal position for holding said member against movement by said spring, electrically controlled means operative upon energization to move said trip out of normal position for releasing said member for movement by said spring, means operative upon coupling of said coupler with said counterpart coupler to compress said uncoupling spring and upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to reduce the pressure of said uncoupling spring, means operative upon uncoupling of said counterpart coupler to move said member to a position providing for return of said trip to its normal position, and means operative automatically to return said trip to its normal position.

25. In combination, two automatic car couplers each having a coupler lock for engaging the other coupler to lock the couplers together, an uncoupling spring in each coupler, an uncoupling member in each coupler arranged for operation by the respective uncoupling'spring for moving the coupler lock to an uncoupling position to provide for uncoupling of the two couplers, a trip in each coupler having a normal position for securing said uncoupling member against uncoupling operation by said uncoupling spring, means in each coupler operative to move the trip therein out of contact with the respective uncoupling member to render the uncoupling spring efiective to actuate the uncoupling member, and cooperating means in both couplers connecting the trips in the two couplers for efiecting movement' of either of the trips out of its normal position upon movement of the other out of its normal position.

MORTIMER,- B. CAMERON. 

